POLITASPORTS

This was a brutal loss. Not only because Miami got crushed on the scoreboard, but they forfeited the number one seed, the opportunity to clinch the division, and lost a key contributor on defense, Chubb. Losing Chubb hurts this team more than the earlier loss of Phillips, but losing both edge rushers this season is devastating. Can the Dolphins overcome, of course, will they? That is the question. The score suggests a slaughter, but Miami moved the ball effectively, especially early while the game was still in contention. They simply failed to put points on the board. Turnovers and drops affected them more than the Ravens “vaunted” defense. Would that have mattered? No, not the way the Dolphin defense played, but, instead of 56-19 it may have been 48-30? Still a but kicking, but maybe not the embarrassment that transpired. 

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Coaching: (F); Coach MnM as I have been calling him, gets a slacker’s A (C-). The offense came out prepared and played well most of the game. Did I like every play call? No. The momentum swung when Tyreek dropped a sure touchdown that would’ve given Miami a 14-7 lead early. Miami had a the ball at the six yard line with a first down available at the two. I was screaming “go for it!” instead McDaniel elected to gift the Ravens a field goal. In my estimation, it was a HORRIBLE decision. This allows the defense to celebrate a “victory” and tells your offense “I don’t think we can gain four yards, let alone six.” I texted my brother this “the drop was bad, but coach should’ve gone right back to his star on 4th and said ‘make up for that BS right here’ instead he kicked a weak FG when he had a chance at a short first down or TD. That call showed they never believed they had a chance.” That was my take. MnM has too often chosen the easy path instead of the difficult. Sunday night he may need to make some tough choices in order to win the division. I hope he errs, not on the side of caution, but of victory.

Fangio called one of the most putrid games I’ve seen. It brought back memories of the 1999 Jags playoff game. Couldn’t stop a toy train. Made zero adjustments. People are crowning Lamar MVP after that performance, but wow, he just had to throw balls in the air, Miami’s secondary did the rest. Buffalo can look at the film, but all they can come away with is “I hope they choose not to play defense against us too.” Fangio failed on New Years Eve, let’s hope he starts 2024 off much, much better, or else Miami is looking at starting the playoffs on the road.

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Running Backs: (A); Achane was the best player for the Dolphins all day. People are blaming Coach for not giving him more touches, but as the game got farther and farther away, what was he supposed to do? The questions facing Achane are similar to those Tua faced, can he stay healthy? I hope so, because, he could be a force in South Florida for a while. 137 total yards and a touchdown against the “best defense in the NFL” is a great Sunday afternoon.

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Receivers: (F); Two dropped touchdown passes. Not two dropped passes that may have gone for six. No, two perfectly thrown balls in the end zone right into the receivers hands that were just dropped. Not deflected, tipped, defended in any way. Just dropped. One to extend an early lead, one to cut a late deficit. Inexcusable. Rancid.

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Defense: (F-); Fetid. Horrid. Noxious. What else can I say. Last year the defense cost Miami at least three or four games. It has been much enhanced this season, but on NYE that all came crashing down. One game does not a season make, but when it’s the Mid-Term or Final it is a large portion of your total grade and WOW did this unit fail on Sunday. Losing two more key ingredients Howard and Chubb will only exacerbate the situation. Fangio and company need to fix it, and fast. Allen plays a similar game to Lamar. Mobile with a big arm. Only he has more consistent weapons. 

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Special Teams: (F); You can’t give up an eighty yard return! 

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Quarterback: (D); He completed under sixty percent of his passes. He made some very off target throws. He continues to make poor decisions at key moments. I don’t think anyone understood the reason to save one second at the end of the first half? Was that him or coach? If it was coach, that is when a “franchise” QB says “no, we are catching our breath, we don’t need to rush here” if it was him, it’s puzzling. Then of course the rushed throw gets picked, and the defense gives up the points and it is a minimum ten point swing going into half when the Ravens deferred, so it became a 17 or possibly 21 point swing! All to save ONE second. A five year starting veteran can not make that mistake, let alone an elite franchise QB. I’m sorry. Keep calling me a “hater” which, I am not. Miami is in a tough spot with Tua. Do I believe there are better options available on the market or in the draft at the Dolphin’s position? No. Do I believe Tua is worth what the market says he will command? Also, No. What do you do? They need to consider the Cousins model and Tag him. If teams are foolish enough to let Penix Jr drop in the draft (some say 2nd round?), Miami should scoop him up as Tua’s backup/competition. 

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Officials: (C); Nothing that would’ve altered this game. There is some evidence that maybe the ball hadn’t been snapped before the two minute warning, but that is a freeze frame, Tua intended to snap that ball and it was right at the mark. 

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Overall: (F-); I posted this on X. Here are the scores in Miami’s five biggest games this year: Buffalo – 20, Philly – 17, KC – 14, Dallas – 22, Baltimore – 19. The “Greatest Show on Surf” fizzles under the Big Tent. The Dolphins need to come out firing week eighteen. They can’t hope to beat the Bills in a grinder. The defense will need to make a play or two, but if Miami is to win, the offense, for once, will have to carry them in a big moment. Tua is 0-5. Yes, he had the two minute drill on Christmas Eve, it was great, but the game was lackluster. He needs to step up. As does Hill. He has had a fumble or dropped a TD in every one of those big games as well. This is all hands on deck to clinch the division, get the two seed, and win twelve games for the first time in (thirty?) years. #FinsUP. Let’ Go. 

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